Download 2015-2016 APES Mart Syllabus

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Course Description:
AP Environmental Science is an applied science taught at a college level. This course is a combination of many sciences such as Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, Geology, Ecology, Economics, Political Science and Mathematics. The course will cover all current information regarding
Environmental issues today and the information from your textbook. In order to be successful in this course you must have completed a High
school level Biology and Chemistry and have succeeded in both courses. This course is very different than other regular AP Courses because it is
an applied science meaning there will be many hands on activities and laboratories you will conduct and all knowledge learned in this course can
be applied and relevant to your everyday lives.
Instructor: Marilia Martinez
Email: [email protected]
Text book:
Living in the Environment AP * Edition Seventeenth edition
Authors: G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman
ISBN-13: 978-0538-49383-3
ISBN-10: 0-538-49383-6
Home Learning:
Students will be assigned home learning assignments on a daily basis. There will be chapter review handouts assigned per chapter.
The questions on these handouts will be answered in complete sentences typed on a separate sheet of paper. Students are expected
to complete and turn in work in a timely manner. No late work will be accepted without an excuse absence slip.
Laboratory:
Class time will also be dedicated to conduct laboratories. Due to time constraints because of our 8-block schedule we will be
conducting additional laboratory sessions after school as per our tentative schedule. These lab sessions are Mandatory NOT
OPTIONAL!
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Laboratory Report Requirements:
Pre Labs are required before any student can begin any in class laboratory. Pre-lab requirements are below:
 Name and Date. The students name and date should be printed in the upper left hand corner of your laboratory
notebook.
 Title: The Pre-lab must have a title in the top center of the lab report. The title must briefly describe what is being
investigated.
 Introduction/ Purpose: The introduction must summarize the purpose of the lab in 2 to 3 sentences.
 Procedure: Students must re-write procedures in their own words and use exact measurements and equipment as
the lab manual instructs. They may be written as steps (bulleted or numbered.)
 Pre-Lab Questions: These questions will be provided to the student prior to the lab. Student must answer the
questions before starting the lab. Students must use their resources available to answer the questions in its entirety.
 Data Tables: Data tables must be pre-constructed in your lab reports to collect data during the lab. Students may not
spend class/lab time drawing tables.
Post Lab requirements
 The final lab report should include all of the previous requirements and the additional following:
 Calculations and graphs: All calculations including all the steps must be included as part of your lab report. When
necessary one must create graphs to show relationships of variables tested. Graphs must be labeled accordingly(title,
axis, units and keys.)
 Conclusion: Students must write a complete conclusion that includes analysis of the results. Discussion of results from
other groups must be included when indicated to do so. They must be well written using correct terms and ideas
accurately.
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus

Post lab questions: All labs have are accompanied by a post lab question section that must be completed when lab
reports are to be turned in to class.
Course Outline:
I. Earth Systems and Resources (10–15%)
A. Earth Science Concepts
(Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude)
B. The Atmosphere
(Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
C. Global Water Resources and Use
(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems;
conservation)
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics
(Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation)
II. The Living World (10–15%)
A. Ecosystem Structure
(Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects;
major terrestrial and aquatic biomes)
B. Energy Flow
(Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)
C. Ecosystem Diversity
(Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)
D. Natural Ecosystem Change
(Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter)
III. Population (10–15%)
A. Population Biology Concepts
(Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics
(Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times; demographic transition; age-structure
diagrams)
2. Population size (Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies)
3. Impacts of population growth (Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction)
IV. Land and Water Use (10–15%)
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population
(Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic engineering and crop production; deforestation;
irrigation; sustainable agriculture)
2. Controlling pests (Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant laws)
B. Forestry
(Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)
C. Rangelands
(Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands)
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban land development (Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization)
2. Transportation infrastructure
(Federal highway system; canals and channels; Roadless areas; ecosystem impacts)
3. Public and federal lands
(Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands)
4. Land conservation options
(Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
E. Mining
(Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)
F. Fishing
(Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)
G. Global Economics
(Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10–15%)
A. Energy Concepts
(Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)
B. Energy Consumption
1. History
(Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis)
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
(Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves and global demand; synfuels; environmental
advantages/ disadvantages of sources)
D. Nuclear Energy
(Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues;
radiation and human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion)
E. Hydroelectric Power
(Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)
F. Energy Conservation
(Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)
G. Renewable Energy
(Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal;
environmental advantages/disadvantages)
VI. Pollution (25–30%)
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution
(Sources — primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid deposition — causes and effects; heat islands
and temperature inversions; indoor air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant laws)
2. Noise pollution
(Sources; effects; control measures)
3. Water pollution
(Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification;
sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws)
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
4.
Solid waste
(Types; disposal; reduction)
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health
(Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks)
2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment
(Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws)
C. Economic Impacts
(Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
VII. Global Change (10–15%)
A. Stratospheric Ozone
(Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone
depletion; relevant laws and treaties)
B. Global Warming
(Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and
treaties)
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties
First Nine Weeks
Date
Topic and Outline
Aug 19-
Course introduction
Chapter
covered
Ch 1
Class work/ Labs
Assessments
Intro to Environmental overview
Endangered planet
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Aug 23
Aug 27
Energy Resources and
consumption
Sustainability
Land conservation Options
mini quiz
Cats of Borneo activity
Endangered planet Video
Ch 1
Hand out/ Tragedy of the commons lab
Ch 3
Energy use activity
Energy Audit
Chemistry review worksheet
Sep 24Oct 4
Economic Impacts
Global Economics
Energy Resources and
consumption
Matter and Energy Resources
Chemistry Review
Principles of ecology
Energy flow through ecosystems
Biodiversity
Biomagnification
Oct 8Oct 14
Oct 16Oct 18
Oct 22Oct 24
Loss of Biodiversity
Sustaining Biodiversity
Population Dynamics
Human Population and its impact
Water Resources
Water Pollution
Ch 9
Ch 10
Ch 5
Ch 6
Ch 13
Ch 20
Biodiversity Handout
Ch 9 and Ch 10 Quiz
Population Handout
Population growth in Lemna minor population
Water quality lab
Detergents and Fertilizers as Pollutants (impacts on algae
growth)
Ch 5&6 Quiz
Chapter
Class work/ Homework
Assessments
Sep 3Sep 10
Sep 12Sep 18
Sep 20
Ch 2
Ch 3.3
Ch 4 and
Ch 5
Energy hand out
Biomass transfer lab (butterfly)
Biodiversity Lab
Ch 1 Quiz
Ch 2 Quiz
Chemistry review quiz
Ch 3 quiz
Ch 4 and 5 Quiz
Semester Exam
(Multiple Choice and
free response)
Cumulative exam
Second Nine Weeks
Date
Topic and Outline
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Oct 29Nov 14
Nov 18
Nov 26
Dec 2Dec 10
Dec 12Dec 18
Dec 20Jan 9
Jan 13
January 15
Water in South Florida
Aquatic Ecosystems
Fishing (IV. F)
Loss of Biodiversity (VII. C)
Solid Waste (VI. A. 4)
Hazardous Chemicals in the
Environment (VI.B.2)
Impacts on the Environment and
Human Health
Food Soil and Pest Management
Soil and Soil Dynamics (I.D)
Pesticides - Traditional and
Alternative
Agriculture
Environmental Geology
The Lithosphere
Earth Science Concepts (I.A),
Mining (IV.E)
Noise Pollution
Possible water Treatment Plant
Field trip/
Midterm Essay Exam (40%
midterm grade)
covered
Ch 8
Water Project
Quiz on Ch. 8 and 11
Ch 21
Ch 17
Hazardous waste lab
Quiz on Ch. 21 & 17
Ch 12
Soil testing lab
Quiz on Ch. 12
Ch 14
Geology rock lab
Quiz on Ch. 14
Ch 22
Handout
Quiz on Ch. 22
Ch 11
Review For Midterm Exam
Essay Exam set up like a free response question.
Objective exam will be multiple choice.
Midterm Objective Exam (60%
midterm grade)
Midterm
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Third Nine Weeks
Jan 21Jan 31
The Atmosphere - An Overview
SMOG
Acid Rain
Weather and Climate
Air Pollution
Ch 18
Global Warming
Deforestation
Climate and biodiversity
Ozone Depletion
Stratospheric Ozone
Indoor Air Pollution
Energy Resources Historical
Overview
Energy Resources and
Consumption
Nonrenewable Fossil Fuels – Coal
Nonrenewables (Petroleum,
Natural Gas, Synfuels)
Ch 19
(Ch 7)
CO2 Audit
Ozone lab
Ch 14
Complete long term energy audit
Ch. 14
Ch. 15
Nonrenewable resources handout
Ch 14 Quiz
March 14
Nuclear Energy - Resources and
Safety
Research issues on nuclear energy in the news. Write a report
on the concerning issues.
Ch 14 and 15 Exam
Mar 18Mar 20
Renewable Resources
Renewables and Alternatives
Ch 15
Sect
15.5
Ch. 16
Essay on renewable resource method for manufacturing
business.
Semester Exam
(Multiple Choice and
free response)
Cumulative exam
Feb 4Feb18
Feb 20Feb 28
Mar 4Mar 12
Acid Rain Lab
Ch 18 Quiz
Air Pollution Analysis (graphical analysis of data)
Ch 19 Quiz
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Fourth Nine Weeks
Apr 1Apr 11
Apr 15 –
May 2
Tentative
End of MayJune
Environmental Economics/
Politics
Sustainable Future
Other Land Use
Review for AP Exam – practice
essays and objective exams
A.P. Exam
End of the year Projects and Final
Exams
Ch 23
Ch 24
Ch 25
Laws, policies and agency review.
Environmental laws game.
Practice AP Exams
Multiple-choice and free response.
Choose Environmental topic and create your own PSA
supporting it.
Grading Policy:
The grading system is based on weighted percentages. Each assignment will have a point value and weighed according to the category.
(15%): Homework (Includes Mastering chemistry online assignments and other home learning assignments.)
(15%): Classwork (In class assignments that are turned in for a grade, including group assignments)
(20%): Laboratory (This includes lab attendance, pre-lab and post lab assignments)
(20%): Quizzes (This includes scheduled and pop-quizzes)
(30%): Chapter Tests (All cumulative exams)
Ch 23, 24 and 25 quiz
respectively
Presentation
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A. P. Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Classroom Expectations:
-All students must respect themselves, the teacher and each other.
-No disruptive behavior will be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly with a detention or referral.
-NO Electronic Devices of Any Kind Will be allowed during lectures, quizzes and exams. The only exception is the BYOD (bring your own device) policy during
labs and group assignments. BYOD is a privilege which can be revoked if it is misused such as checking email, grades, social media, etc..
-NO food, drink, or gum should be brought into the classroom.
-You are expected to be in class and in your assigned seat on time.
-Be prepared for class! This means all necessary materials must be brought to class each day (homework, pen, paper, notebook etc).
-The laboratory or room must be clean at the end of the period before leaving.
-All school rules will be followed as stated in the student handbook.
-All safety rules as stated in the Science Safety Agreement must be followed.